I followed this trail:

Kerzen verfertigt man aus Paraffin, Wallrath, Wachs, Stearinsäure, Talg, ja sogar aus allerhand Fettabfällen;
http://www.zeno.org/Pierer-1857/A/Kerze

Wallrath (Sperma ceti), eine wachsähnliche Fettmasse, welche sich in besonderen Höhlen im Kopfe von einigen Meersäugethieren, bes. Physeter macrocephalus, Tursio microps, Orthodon u. Delphinus edentulus, als Oleïn aufgelöst findet u. beim Ausfließen krystallinisch erstarrt.
http://www.zeno.org/Pierer-1857/A/Wallrath

Spermaceti (from Greek sperma, seed, and Latin cetus, whale) sometimes erroneously called parmaceti is a wax present in the head cavities of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).
The substance was also used in making candles of a standard photometric value, in the dressing of fabrics, and as a pharmaceutical excipient, especially in cerates and ointments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spermaceti

Example:
Nantucket Whaling Museum
This museum is housed in an 1846 refinery and spermaceti candle factory. The then-prized spermaceti is the oil found in the sperm whale’s head, which was used as lamp oil and machine oil.
http://www.whalewalkinn.com/todo-museums.html